Sampling and testing device for coffee and the like



July 16, 1935. E. U A 2,008,065

SAMPLING AND TESTING DEVICE FOR COFFEE AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 18, 19342 Sheets-Sheet 1 flufly 16, 1935 E. s. DOUGLAS 2,08,065

SAMPLING AND TESTING DEVICE FOR COFFEE AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 18, 1 2SheetsSheet 2 Patented July 16, 1935 g i 2,008,055

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE SAMPLING AND TESTING DEVICE FOR V COFFEE ANDTHE LIKE Edward S. Douglas, Chicago, Ill. assignor to Jules A.Schlinger, Connellsville, Pa. 7

Application December 18, 1934, Serial No. 758,134

4 Claims. (01. 53 --3)W This invention relatesto a sampling andtesttor'4, as by brackets 9, is a miniature cofiee ing device for coffeeand similar beverages, such grinder H! of any conventional construction,proas tea, cocoa, and the like, andhas for its primary vided with anadjustingknob I l to vary the lineobject to provide a unitary andcompact device ness of the ground material. of this nature of relativelysmall dimensions Mounted above the mill I is a hopper 12 for which maybe readily carried in a corner of a receiving the material to be ground,and passage salesmans case. I3 and slide valve l4 provide for regulatingthe Another object of the 'invention resides in the charge of materialentering the mill. The grindprovision of a testing device which willpermit ing mechanism of the mill is suitably connected of thepreparation of samples of several difierent to; the motor 4 through abevel gear I5 or other brands or grades ofcofiee or the like in rapiddesired means. V V i v succession so as to provide an accurate compari-As will be obvious, the discharge funnel [6, of son of the flavor andaroma of the different the coffee grinder is spaced above the base I soproducts. V as to provide for positioning the container l1 A furtherobject of the invention consistsin betweenthe funnel andbase; 15providing a testing device'in which thervarious Mounted on the motorcasing 4, as by means elements necessary to the preparation of the ofbrackets l8 and plate l9,-is a hot water resamples are so arranged as tofacilitate and except'a'cle20, provided with'a closure 2| and steampedite their preparation and thus provide asub- .vent 22; Detachablypositioned in the receptacle sta'nti'al'aid in promoting the sale of thegoods. 20 adjacent the bottom thereof is an electrical Another object ofthe invention resides in the water heater 23 of any preferredconstruction, provision of a testing device in which a pivoted andwiring 24 connects the heater in circuit with stand is employed forsupporting a plurality of a switch 25, which is in turn connected withthe the cups or containers used in conjunction with service cable 1. thedevice so as to enhance the usefulness of the A faucet 26 is connectedto the hot water re- 25 te t r, ceptacle 20 adjacent its bottom andoverhangs Other objects and advantages of the invention the adjacent endof base I. Cooperating with will be apparent from the followingdescription the faucet 26 is a tray vor stand 21 provided with whentakeninconnection with the accompanying a plurality of openings 28 forreceiving samto drawings, in which, pling cups 29. This tray is pivotedto the base 30 Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the comasindicated by numeral 30, and the tray itself plete apparatus, partsbeing broken away. is struck on the arc of a circle so that the sev-Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus. eral cups supported thereonmay be brought suc- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the devicecessively under the faucet by apivotal movement mounted on a table.about the center 30. 35

Figure 4 is a plan view of the tester. The structural details of thetesting device hav- Figure 5 is an end view looking in the opposite ingbeen fully described, the manner of its opdirection from Figure 2, anderation in comparing various brands of coffee or Figure 6 is an enlargeddetail view of the pivother beverages will now be stated. 0 oted standand related parts. The tester having been removed from the sales- 40Referring to the drawings in greater detail, mans case and connected tothe house current the numeral I indicates a base of insulation mathroughplug 8, a charge of coffee or the like terial and provided with knobs 2on its underside of any desired brand is placed in the mill, the tosuitably space the base from the table or desk receptacle 20 is filledwith water, and both on which the tester may be placed for demonswitchesB and 25 closed. This closing of the 45 strating the qualities of thegoods being tested. circuits through the motor 4 and heater 23 willMounted about midway of the length of the put both of these devices inoperation so that base I, which as already intimated is of rather thewater is heating in receptacle 20 while the small dimensions, is abracket 3 which supports a beverage material is being ground. Thedesmall electric motor 4. The motor is connected gree of fineness of thematerial is of course renby electrical conductors 5 with a switch 6mountdered variable by means of the adjusting memed in the base I, whichis in turn connected to ber ll, and when so ground and discharged intothe service cable I provided with the usual conthe container H, theswitch 6 is opened and nector plug 8. the container I! removed. Thismember l1 4 Supported on an end of the casing of the moserves as a ladlefor distributing the ground material to one or more of the cups 29 asdesired, and the hot water is of course charged into the cups by merelyopening the faucet 26 and oscillating the tray 21 so as to bring thecups successively into cooperation therewith.

The samples of material thus placed in the cups may be stirred, treatedwith cream and sugar, or as desired by the prospective customer and thencarefully examined as to its taste and aroma.

The several cups 2'! may be all charged with the same brand of materialif circumstances Warrant. On'the other hand, if found desirable, severaldifferent brands of material may be passed through the grinder in quicksuccession and 7 charged into the various cups and tested by theprospective customer so that a more reliable comparison of the flavorand aroma of the brands may be obtained. a

From; the foregoing description and the attached drawings it will beapparent to those 7 skilled in the art that the present inventionprovides a verycompact and handy device for testing the merits ofvarious brands of beverag'es;

that the demonstration may be made in the presence of the customer in aneat and attractive manner: that the apparatus is so designed as toadmit of a rapid preparation of samples of various brands so as tofacilitate comparison, and that the entire device may bereadilytransporte in a section of a conventional sales case.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described what I nowbelieve to be the preferred form of the inventiombut inasmuch as variousminor changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention it is intended that all suchdetails (be included Within the scope of theap'p'end ed claims.

What is claimed is: V 1. A miniature device for the preparation ofbeverage samplesand capable of placement in arate, non-communicatingelectrically heated water receptacle on said base, a faucet connected tothe receptacle, and, means for supporting one or" more cups below thefaucet.

2. A miniature device for the preparation of beverage samples andcapable of placement in a salesmans case, said device including a basemember, a grinding mill mounted thereon, a removable receiving containerfor the mill, a separate, non-communicating hot water receptaclesupported on the base member, a faucet connected to the receptacle, anda tray pivoted on avertical axis for successively supporting a pluralityof cups beneath the faucet.

8. A miniature device for the preparation of beverage samples andcapable of placement in a salesmans case, said device including a basemember, an electrically operated mill and a separate, non-communicatingelectrically heated water receptacle on said base, a removable receiving container for the mill, a faucet connected to the receptacle, andmeans for supporting one or more cups below the faucet.

4. A miniature device. for the preparation of beverage samples andcapable of placement in a salesman s case, said device including abasememher, an electrically-operated mill and a separate,non-communicating electrically heated water receptacle on' said base,electric switches mountedin the base member, and associated with thecircuits of the mill and receptacle, a removable receiving containersupported below the mill, and meansefor successively presenting aplurality of cupszbeneath the faucet.

, EDWARDS, DOUGLAS.

